Lifting tongs



May 29, 1923. I 1,457,104

E. J. CONNOR ET AL LIFTING TONGS Filed April 12, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 1 May 29, 1923.

E- J. CONNOR ET AL LIFTING TONGS Filed April 12, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mue/wtou ArthurR FmZs tore 4- 1. mtow s description.

Patented May 29, 1923.

EDWIN J. comma Ann ART UR a. RALs'rom-oE O AHAQNEBRKS'KLT "marine TONGS.

Application fi1ed Apri112,'1922:' .Seria1.No': '55 i,863. :3

To all whom it"may concern: Be it knownthat we, EDWIN J. CONNOR ancb-Anrnnn 'B. RALsToN, citizens of the United States, residing at Omaha, int-he county ofDouglas and State ofNebraska, have inventedcertain new and --useful Improvements in Lifting Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to' hoisting tongs and has special reference totongs for engaging heavyrails and supporting them while they are being moved from point to point nloading or unloading, although the device is capable of use upon other heavy objects. I

One object of the invention is to provide hoisting tongswhich may be automatically engaged with the head of a rail'and easily released therefrom after the rail has been brought to the point of delivery. A further object of the inventionis to provide means whereby the rail-engaging members may be locked against release and held in locked position while the rail is being shifted, and a further object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means whereby the rail-engaging members maybe easily engaged with the rails and held thereto prior to the litting-actiom and a further object is to provide-means whereby' sfuch locking means will be automatically released to permit discharge of the rail or other load. Other incidental objects of the; invention will appear inthe course of 'the following In the annexed drawingspvhich illustrate one embodiment of "our invention,

Figure 1 is a perspeotive'view ofhoisting tongs embodyingour improvements;

Fig. 2 is an elevation with one side plate and one load-engaging jaw removed,- the device being'shown in the position prior to complete engagementofthe load" by the jaws;

Fig. 3 is a View with one side plate removed and parts in section showing the jaws engaged under the head of a rail;

Fig. 4' is an enlarged view similar to F ig. 3 but showing the rail fullyengaged and all the parts in the position assumed when the rail is being shifted;

Fig. 5 is a detail of Fig. 4:;

Fig-6 is a detail perspective view of the plunger or locking member; a Fig. 7 is an: enlarged"detail' perspective view"ofone'oftheload-engaging jaws.

section on the line 55 the side plates 1.

i In'carrying outour' inventiom we einp'loy 1 side plates 1 which maybe held-in i spaeed "relation by spacer blocks"? and 3'finter'po'sed I between them attheir upper 'e'nds and at intermediate points, and these'spacefb'looks integral with one of the face plates. The upperends of the plates are connected by a 1 cap plate 4 which is constructed witha transvers'e'slot 5 throughfwhich'the endpf the latch -6-pro'je'ct s. The sideo'r'iface' plates 1 ma be separate elements'or'm ay-b'e' formed f' are suitably shaped on-tlieir-"inner faces to I understood upon reference "to the drawings.

This locking head-"is" provided 'with asus pension pin or eye 12' at its ;upper endjand .a spring 13- isattached at'its lowerendfto the said suspension member; and-atitsupper provide a recessor'chamber 7: anaaiehour.

der or lug 8, the; purpose'sf ot: "whichj' vvill" presently appear,-and--thelatch 6 disposed between the spacer-"blocks 2,' as" shown iioost clearly in Fig. 14'. The plates 1 are provided upon their f edges above theircenters with lateral extensions or lugs 9 -and'are properly shaped at their lower ends 'toprovide I V pat-h by'the surfaces of the: tacdplatesfand the said spacer blocks; -'as"will be*readily end to the 'cap' plate 4, the streifgth* ofthe 6 is pivoted at'its lowerendtoonejside ot; the

sp'ring being constantlyexertedto holdthe i locking head in a raisedpositionfiiThe latch locking headfand is provided upon oneside edge with a tooth 14 adapted to ,engage' the,

upper sideof the cap -plate aandithereby support the plunger headin a -raisiedi position, and upon its'op'p'osite edgethe-la'tch'is providedwith atooth orshoulder 15, adapted to engage the shoulder 8 provided on one-of When the shoulder '15 engagesthe shoulder 8; the -latc'h-and" the lockingh'ad will be prevented from-moving upwardly and will,therefore', retainthe working parts in the load-engaging position until the latch or operat-ing handle "member Gis manually shifted to'release theshdulder 15; In the "lower-end of the looking "headis a transverse groove orrecess*16 which"is from the load engaging members nea'r the upper ends of tl16"Sa'-I1f13. These" tongues 17, when-the two' load-engaging members are in adapte'd to receive the tongues 'l7'iprojecting locked position; will overlap so" as to fill the recess or groove 16, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4; and the locking head will pass between the flat vertical surfaces 18 of the load-engaging jaws so that movement of these aws will be positively prevented. The load-engaging members or jaws comprise a vertical intermediate or shank portion 19 which is pivotally mounted between the lower portions of the tongues 10 of the face plates and the pivots 20 for these load-engaging members may also be utilized as the bolts by which the face plates are held together. The outer surface of the shank 19 at the upper extremity thereof is curved, as shown at 21, whereby it may readily clear the adjacent spacer block 3 when the member swings pivotally. Each tongue 17 projects from a lower corner of the flat face 18, and upon one load-engaging member the tongue is arranged at the front side, while upon the other load-engaging member it is arranged at the rear side so that the tongues may overlap when a load is held. From the lower end of the shank 19, a sustaining jaw 22 projects inwardly in approximately parallel relation to the respective tongue 17, but this jaw 22 is expanded so that it is appreciably wider than the shank and will therefore, have sufiicient strength to sustain the load with which it is engaged. To limit the pivotal movement of the load-engaging jaws .or members, weprovide studs or stop pins 23 which play in arcuate grooves or slots 2% in the face plates 1 so that by the engagement of the said studs or pins with the ends oftheslots or grooves the movement of the load-engaging members will be limited. We thus prevent the said members assuming a position in which they can not be easily brought into properrelation to the load and also aid the locking head in preventing excessive movement of the load-engaging members in the opposite direction.

Pivotally supported between the lugs or ears 9 by the bolts 25, which are passed through said lugs and serve also to fasten the face plates together, are angle levers 26 which have their'shorter arms 27 arranged to bear upon the upper end of the locking head 11 and have their longer arms extended upwardly and outwardly from between the lugs 9. In the upper extremities of the longer arms of these angle levers are engaged chains 28 which are connected at their inner ends by a ring or link 29 which, in turn, is engaged by a suspending hook 30. The suspendinghook 30 is, of course, carried by the lower end of a power cable which depends froma crane or other load-sustaining and that a coiled spring 81 is arranged above the recess or chamber 7 of one side plate 1 and is secured at its opposite ends to the latch 6 and the base of the said recess respectively.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of our device being thus made known, it is thought the operation of the same will be readily understood. When a rail, for instance, is to be lifted by the use of our device, the latch or controlling handle member 6 is shifted manually so that the tooth 15 will be released from the shoulder 8, whereupon the spring 13 will contract and draw the member 6 upwardly through the slot 5 in the cap plate, while at the same time the spring 31 will be placed under tension and will draw the shoulder or tooth 14 into position over the cap plate at the end of the slot 5 so that the latch and the locking head will be supported in the raised position and prevented from moving downwardly even though the spring 13 should be broken. When the locking head is thus raised, the lifting arms or levers 26 will, of course, be moved apart at their upper ends, as shown in Fig. 2, and the load-engaging members may assume the position shown in said Fig. 2 with the tongues 17 in a partly depending position and the sustaining jaws 22 swung laterally outward. The engagement of the tooth 14 with the cap plate 4 will prevent thelevers 26 swinging about their pivots inasmuch as the extremities of their lower arms are in constant engagement with the upper end of the locking head and, as the locking head is raised and held in its uppermost position, movement of the levers will be prevented.

The operating'cable may, therefore, be released so that the tongs may descend over the rail to be shifted, this movement bringingthe tongues 17 into contact with the head of the rail as will be readily understood upon reference. to Fig. 2. The continued downward movement of the device will, of course, then cause the load-engaging members to swing about their respective pivots and assume the position shown in Fig. 3 with the load-sustaining jaws 22 engaged under the' head of the rail. The tooth 1a is then released from the cap plate 4 by exerting a lateral and downward pressure manually upon the upper end of the latch 6 so that the locking head will be depressed until the tooth 15 engages under the shoulder 8. This downward movement of the locking head will cause the grooved or recessed lower end thereof to pass over the tongues 17 and bring the sides of the body portion of the locking, head slightly between and in engagement with the flat vertical faces 18, as shown in Fig. 3. Pivotal movement ofthe load-engaging members will thus be prevented and consequently they cannot beaccidentally or pre- -mature1y releasedfro'm the-irail. If, now,

the power be applied to -the operating cable so as to pull upwardly upon the same, the chains 28 will be caused to move toward vertical positions and thereby swing the levers' 26 upon their fulcrums, as will be readily understood upon reference to Figs. 3 and 4, and cause the toes or lower ends of these leversto press downwardly upon the locking head so that a further'dowm' shown'clearly inFig. 4. Of course, the

downward movement of the locking head,

' willrelease the tooth 15 from the shoulder 8 and the spring 31 will then at once move the latch so that straight upward movement of the same will cause the tooth '15 to clear the said shoulder8. The weight of the rail or otherload to be moved, together with the entire weight ofthe'ton'gs, is car ried by the operating cable so that the upper ends of the levers 26 tend constantly to swing together and a very powerful force is applied to the upper end of the locking head to hold thesame against the load. In this position, the entire .face 18 of each load-engaging member will be engaged by the adjacent side or end of the locking head and, consequently, inward swinging movement of the load-engaging members is prevented so that release of the load cannot occur until the tension upon the operating cable is removed. Of course, this tension will not be removed as long as the rail or other load is suspended in the device above the ground, but when the load comes in contact with the ground, a loading platform, or the floor of a car, the tension upon the operating cable will be released and if it then be lowered the upper ends of the levers will move apart, permitting the locking head to raise and the load engaging members to be released from the load. When the rail has been deposited upon the ground or other fixed support, the pressure exerted upon the locking head will be released so that the spring 13 may contract and lift the head and carry the latch 6 through the slot 5, whereupon the spring 31 will pull the tooth let into engagement with the upper surface of the cap plate. If-a lifting pull be then exerted through the operating. cable upon the upper ends of the levers 26, the levers will be prevented from swinging. about their fulcrums, but the entire device will be raised and the engagement of the jaws 22 with the head of the rail will cause them to swing about their pivots and again assume the position indicated in Fig. 2 so that another rail may be engaged and the transferring operation repeated.

- It will be readily seen that We have provided a very simple, compact and efficient 'device whereby rails and other heavy-oblaid or upon platforms'where they are to be 1 stored.

It is to be understood, however,

thatthe apparatus may be employed for handling channel irons, I-beams, and a great variety of other material and heavy objects. Having thus ,descrlbed 1s clalmed as new is:

1. An apparatusfor the purpose set forth comprising a pair of opposedcoactingloadengaging jaws, a locking head arranged above and adapted to engage-between the jaws to-lock them to a load, means acting;constantly on the head and actuated by a lifting the invention, what force to move it intoengagement' withthe, i

jaws, and'means for withdrawing the head from between is removed.

the jawswhen the lifting force 2. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of coacting load-engaging jaws, a locking ahead engageable between the jaws, releasable means for holding. the head in engagement with the jaws, means actuated by a lifting force to release saidholding means and maintain engagement of the head with the jaws, and means for withdrawing the head when the lifting force is removed.

3. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pairv of opposed coacting load engaging jaws, means for causing the jaws to automatically engage a load, a lockmg 'head adapted to engage between the jaws and bear upon the load whereby the jaws will be locked to the load and the load may be suspended, and meansvacting. constantly on the head for binding said locking head" 7 against the load and lifting the load, the locking head and the jaws.

4E. The combination of a pair of opposed coacting load-engaging jaws, a locking head slidably mounted above the jaws and ar-' rangedto enter'between them and bear upon the load, angle levers arranged at opposite sides and above the locking head and bear-' ing constantly thereon to force the head between the jaws, and means for applying power tosaid levers whereby to bind'the locking head upon the load andin'engage-j ment with the load-engaging jaws.

5. The combination of a pair of opposed v coacting'load-engaging jaws, a locking head I slidably mounted above the jaws and adapted to engage between them, yieldable means tending constantly to lift the locking'head from the jaws, means for engaging the looking head between the aws and holding'it in the engaged position, and means whereby when a lifting power is exerted upon the jaws the locking head will be caused to further engage the jaws and to bind upon the load.

6. The combination of a sustaining structure, load-engaging aws pivotally mounted in the lower ends of the sustaining structure, a locking head slidably fitted within the structure and adapted to engage the loadengaging jaws whereby to prevent release thereof, a latch pivoted to the locking head and extending through the upper end of the sustaining structure, said latch being provided with opposed teeth upon 1ts opposite sides adapted toengage respectively with an internal portion of the sustaining structure or over the upper extremity thereof whereby to maintain the locking head in either a lowered or a raised position, a yieldable connection between the looking head and the top of the sustaining structure, yieldable means acting upon the latch and tending to hold it free of internal engagement with the sustaining structure, 1 and operating levers mounted within the sustaining structure and connected with a suspending cable and hearing constantly upon the locking head.

I. A. device for the purpose set forth comprising a sustaining structure, load-engaging members pit otally mounted within the lower end of the sustaining structure and provided near their-upper ends with in wardly projecting tongues adapted to engage upon a weight to be raised whereby downward movement of the sustainingstructure will cause the load-engaging members to grip said weight, a locking head slidably mounted within the sustaining structure, means tending constantly to maintain the locking head out of engagement with the load-engaging members, and means for driving the locking head into engagement with the load-engaging members and applying a load-sustaining and lifting force thereto.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

EDWIN J. CONNOR. [11. s.] ARTHUR R. RALSTONI. [L. s.] 

